the poet who will speak today is richard blanco. he's a poet who was trained as a civil engineer because his parents insisted that writing would never take him anywhere, but he will be delivering his poetry today at the president's inauguration. and then the benediction will be delivered by luis leon, who is the rector of st. john's church, the little church right across the street from the white house. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the chairman for the inaugurational ceremonies, the honorable charles e. schumer. >> mr. president, mr. vice president, members of congress, all who are present and to all who are watching, welcome to the capitol and to this celebration of our great democracy. now, this is the 57th inauguration of an american president, and no matter how many times one witnesses this event, its simplicity, its innate majesty, and most of all, its meaning, that sacred and yet cautious entrusting of power from we, the people, to our chosen leader never fails to make one's heart beat faster, as it will today with the